The Chicago Cubs had a very good three days. After Kris Bryant was unanimously named the NL Rookie of the Year on Monday, the BBWAA voted Joe Maddon the National League Manager of the Year. And Wednesday, Jake Arrieta topped Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw to win the National League Cy Young Award.
The Cubs went 3-for-3 in the BBWAA Awards and completed a trifecta for the first time in 31 years.
Jake Arrieta was 22-6 in 33 starts during the regular season with a 1.77 ERA and … [Read more...]

The Cubs are scheduled to have “a bunch of meetings with agents” and talk to a lot of teams before leaving Boca Raton. Meetings were expected to start taking place Tuesday night leading up to the end of the GM Meetings.
According to the Sun-Times, the Cubs were expected to talk to David Price’s agent, Bo McKinnis on Wednesday to gauge his client’s interest in the team. Along with David Price, the Cubs reportedly have meetings scheduled with the agents for Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and … [Read more...]

The Cubs have been connected to every big name free agent on the market from David Price and Zack Greinke to Jason Heyward. The front office’s focus is on acquiring pitching this winter and if possible there are other areas the Cubs would like to address. The Cubs are seen throughout the game as the favorites to sign David Price but the team has a budget, not the unlimited payroll that other clubs might have.
Theo Epstein told the beat writers Monday during the first day of the GM Meetings, … [Read more...]

According to a report from Jon Heyman, the Cubs are one of the teams in the mix for Darren O’Day. The veteran right hander reliever is coming off a very good four-year stretch with the Orioles and is expected to be in high demand this winter. O'Day is the top reliever available on the free agent market.
Darren O’Day was 6-2 in 68 games this past season with six saves, a 1.52 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 2.49 FIP. O’Day has made at least 68 appearances in each of the last four years.
Since landing … [Read more...]

The Cubs began Day Three in Orlando by spending $10 million on Carlos Pena ... and spent the night discussing how to improve their pitching staff.
A late report from Bruce Levine indicated the Cubs and Rays met for a second time and "discussed parameters of a trade that would send right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago for a number of the Cubs' top prospects." According to Levine, the Cubs "have the strongest bid" for Garza at this point.
Bruce Levine discussed the possible deal with Mike … [Read more...]

With Carlos Pena signed, sealed and delivered on Wednesday morning (Pena inked a one-year contract with the Cubs worth $10 million. Pena will earn $5 million in 2011 and will receive the other $5 million in January of 2012), the Cubs turned their attention to adding a pitcher to their staff.
According to reports, the Cubs are hoping to "pull off another deal" before leaving Orlando on Thursday. The move could come via a trade and they have checked in on Matt Garza, among others. Jim Hendry is … [Read more...]

Updated - 12/8/10 - 1:00am CT - The Cubs are close on a one-year, $10 million deal with Carlos Pena. Multiple reports early Wednesday morning indicated the Cubs had agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Carlos Pena. According to the Sun-Times, the deal is close but not done and could be made official after a Wednesday morning meeting with Scott Boras.
Jim Hendry called Tuesday a "good day" and reiterated the Cubs are only three or four moves away from competing for a division title in 2011. … [Read more...]

The Cubs might not be making any moves, as of yet, but Jim Hendry is doing a lot of talking. Tuesday was a busy day for the Cubs that reportedly will end with a second meeting in 24 hours with Carlos Pena's agent, Scott Boras.
According to the rumor mill, Hendry aggressively shopped Tom Gorzelanny, intensified his talks with Adam LaRoche, checked in with Brandon Webb and discussed trading Robinson Chirinos and a pitcher to the Rangers for Chris Davis and Darren O'Day on his second day in … [Read more...]